Tongs



M. F. YOUNT .Bua 1, 1924.

TONGS Filed Aug. 15, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. F. YOUNT TONGS Filed Aug. 13, 1923 2 Shee1s-SheeL Z Patented July l, 1924.

tartar j .111? 4 MILES F. YOUNT, OF BEAUMONT, TEXAS.

TONGS.

Application filed August 13, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILus F. YOUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaumont, in the county of Jefferson and State 5 of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tongs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to :new and useful improvements in a tong, and has particular relation to anovel type of latch, by means of which the tong jaws :may be secured around-the pipe or tool joint, or other round object to be turned. I

One object of the invention resides in the provision-of a tong latch which mayrbe adjusted so as to take up the -.wear of the tong parts to insure a proper, and engaging fit, of the jaws around the pipe or tool joint or other object to be turned.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a latch havingia suitable hand grip, by means of which .it 1nay be manipulated with safety to the operator.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation, and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 shows an assembled View of the tong equipped with my improved type of latch, and shown in open position to receive the pipe or other object to be turned.

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the latch; and,

Figure 3 shows a side view thereof.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the tong handle. The tong in use is usually held suspended in the derrick by means of a suitable cable 2 so that the same will be at all times in position for easy application to, or disengagement from, the pipe. The numeral 3 designates an accurate jaw, one end of which is slotted to receive the inner end of the handle which is pivoted therein, and the other end of this aw 3 has the latch, hereinafter described, pivoted thereto. The numeral I designates the other tong aw which is pivotally connected to the handle, through the upper and lower connecting links 5, 5. These links are pivoted at one end to the handle, a short distance back from the inner end thereof, and at their other ends they are Serial No. 657,028.

pivoted to the inner end of the jaw 4. The other end of the jaw l isprovided with an outwardly projecting catch v6. 7

The latch is composed oftherside bars 7, 7, and the latch block 8, which isadjustably secured, as hereinafter stated, on -theouter ends of said bars. These bars arepivotedrto the outer-end ofthe jaw 3, onopposite sides thereof, by means of suitable bearing pin 9. The latch bl0ck8 has end bearings through which the outer ends of the side bars are fitted, and said ends are outwardly threaded to receive the adjusting nuts 10, "10, and the clamp nuts 11, 1 1. are first threaded onto the .respective'bars 7, and the latch block :is then lfitted onto the outer ends, of said bars, and the nuts 11 I then secured in place *to secure said block against detachment. The inner side .of the respective ends of saidblock are shouldered in, as shown in Figure 3, so that-said inner side will :fit in between said adjusting nuts, and .lock them against turning. Theputer side of the latch block 8 has a suitable hand grip 12, by means of which the latch may be manipulated.

The aws, when fitted around the pipe or tool joint, are locked in position by swinging the latch over the catch 6, said latch Theadjusting muts l0 block engaging with said catch, and securing the jaws in position. In case the parts become worn, or if for any reason the jaws do not grip the pipe closely enough, the lock nuts may be removed and the latch block taken off, and the nuts 10 adjusted to the proper place and the' parts again assembled, and the latch thus may be adjusted until a proper adjustment is secured. In order to release the tongs from the pipe, the grip may beigrasped and the latch released from thecatch 6, and the jaws then swung into open position.

As before stated, the tong is suspended by the cable 2, and it is desirable that the tong always maintain a horizontal position in applying the same to the pipe. If the latch is permitted to swing around too far, when in open position, it will cause the tong to swing diagonally and out of a hor zontal plane. To prevent this I have provided a shoulder 13 at the hinged end of the latch on the outside, which contacts against the jaw 3, and limits the outward movement of the latch, so as to hold it in approximately a straight line position with the handle when open, thus causing the tong to swing in approximately a horizontal position.

What I claim is:

1. A tong latch including side bars, and an adjustable latch block mounted on said bars at one end thereof.

2. The combination with a tong having a handle and a pair of engaging jaws attached to one end thereof, of a latch including side bars pivoted at one end to the free end of one jaw, an engaging member adjustably mounted on the other ends of said bars, and adapted to engage with the other jaw. 3. The combination with a tong having a handle and a pair of engaging jaws attached to one end thereof, of a latch including side bars pivoted at one end to the free end of one jaw, an engaging member having end bearings, adjustable on the other ends of said bars, and adapted to engage with the other jaw, and a handgrip carried by said engaging member. s

4. The combination with a tong having a handle, and a pair of arcuate engaging jaws,'connected at one end to one end of said handle and a catch carried by the free end of one of said jaws, of a latch including apair of side bars pivoted, at one end, to the free end of the other jaw, an engaging member having end bearings adjustable on the I other ends of the bars, said engaging member being adapted to engage over said catch to secure the free ends of said j aws. together.

5. The combination with a tong having a handle, and a pair of arcuate engaging jaws, connected at one end to one end of said handle, and a catch carried by the free end of: one of said jaws, of a latch including a pair of side bars pivoted, at one end, to the free end of the other jaw, an engaging block formed with end bearings adjustable on the other ends of the bars, said block being adapted to engage over said catch to secure the free ends of said jaws together, and an abutment carried by the latch and located to abut against the jaw, carrying the latch. to limit the outward movement of said latch.

6. A latch including side bars, a latch block having end bearings through which corresponding ends of the side bars are fitted, and adjustable means securing said block on said bars.

7 A latch including side bars each outwardly threaded at one end, a latch block having end bearings through which the threaded ends of the side bars are titted, nuts threaded onto said ends of said bars on opposite sides of said block, one side of said block being recessed at each end to receive the adjacent nuts.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MILES F. YOUNT. WVitnesses:

M. T. ScHLIoKER, J. G. JONES. 

